Kiamichi Reunion: Book Five of the Kiamichi Survival Series

by C. A. Henry

  “We don’t want to be sleeping outside and hiking in the snow, either,” Helen warned. “Ice has its own set of dangers. I’m thinking we may have to stay here. I hate to say it, but it could be another week or two before we can cross the river, and that puts us in Arkansas in February, maybe into early March, at the rate we’re going.

  “I’m sure none of you have noticed,” she added with a teasing grin, “but I’m not exactly a youngster. The cold is hard on my old bones, and ice is a particular danger to people my age. To be honest, I’ve been dreading camping our way across Arkansas this time of year, even though I am eager to get home.”

  Stevie shook her head. “Helen, you’re hardly a decrepit old crone. You don’t look a day over fifty, and you get around better than some people half your age.”

  Ross looked troubled. “You aren’t thinking that we should move to the bunker, are you? Our uncle’s farm has a lot of bad memories for me and Massey.”

  Helen shook her head. “I wasn’t suggesting a place, just that heading out might be a mistake. I think most people out roving around will probably look for a place to hole up for the winter, if they haven’t already. I think we should discuss where we should make our base.”

  “Well, I vote that we stay here,” Massey stated flatly. “I went to the bunker, and I don’t think I’m a weakling, but I don’t want to go back. I feel bad enough that we haven’t retrieved the bodies of our family members and given them a decent burial.”

  Jeff’s eyes met Helen’s and she nodded slightly. They both looked at Stevie; she looked a little ill, but nodded, too.

  “If it will help you find some comfort about losing your family, we’ll go to your uncle’s farm and take care of that,” Jeff promised. “You don’t have to do it; I can’t imagine how hard that would be, but the rest of us will go.”

  “And if we do, don’t think for one minute that we expect you to move there. This isn’t about any quid pro quo; we’ll do this for you, not to get something in return,” Helen assured them.

  Ross stared at them, unable to believe the offer could be real, but all three of their new friends agreed that they could handle the grisly job.

  “I don’t know what to say,” Massey murmured. “That’s the most generous thing anyone has ever said to us.”

  “Then consider it done. That is, if it ever stops raining,” Jeff replied.

  ~~~~

  The next day was sunny and warmer than expected. Helen, Stevie, and Jeff dressed in layers and found shovels in the shed, then set off for the other farm. Stevie led the way, being the only one of the three who had been there before. All three carried rifles. They planned to rotate their duties, with two digging and one standing guard at all times. Then they’d have to remove the metal sheets that had once been the barn roof and carry the charred remains to the grave.

  With the temperature above freezing and all the recent rain, the ground was soft. Massey had suggested a nice spot for the mass grave, near his aunt’s rose garden. Massey planned to spend his day making a wooden marker and burning the names of each member of the family into it, and Ross agreed to guard the house.

  Knowing that the job was a big one, Helen had warned the brothers that they might not be back until the next day. They could sleep in the bunker if necessary and return after finishing up.

  It went faster than expected. They were able to dig a deep hole, and when they began the task of gathering the dead, they discovered that all of the bodies were together, near where the front door of the barn had been.

  Massey and Ross had counted how many bodies there should be, and when all were accounted for, Stevie climbed into the hole and spread a tarp in the bottom. They lowered each body into the grave, then covered them with another tarp, and refilled the hole.

  They had almost half an hour of daylight left, and the exhausted workers decided they’d rather head back. Massey and Ross would have a tough job standing guard without help, and they’d all sleep better knowing their group was safe.

  When they got to the house, it was dark. Jeff went to the front porch and gave three knocks, then four, on the door. Ross opened it, and Jeff waved Helen and Stevie in, then Ross locked the door behind them.

  “Well, it’s done. All of the bodies were there, and we thought you might want to go tomorrow and say a few words at the gravesite. It’s up to you,” Helen offered.

  The brothers decided that they’d go as soon as Massey finished the marker for the grave. Then the discussion about where to stay through the winter began again. Massey and Ross decided that they could stand going to the bunker if the others insisted, since their family members’ bodies were no longer in what was left of the barn.

  “Let’s make a list of the pros and cons of the two places,” Stevie suggested. “We need to think this through.”

  Massey got some paper from the bedroom and they sat around, talking it over.

  “We’re comfortable here, and each of us has some privacy. The only ones sharing a bedroom are used to sharing,” Jeff commented. “But standing guard is exhausting, and we have to do it all day and all night.”

  “In the bunker, we’re pretty well concealed, but there’s less privacy. The only way to force us out of there is to seal off the air from the vent, and it’s hidden very well,” Ross added.

  “How’s the cooking situation in the bunker? I noticed that it doesn’t have a real kitchen, just a microwave and a toaster oven,” Stevie asked.

  Massey cleared his throat. “Well, we used the kitchen in the house some, too. They had the same setup for their stove as we have for ours, and the propane tank was filled the same day ours was, but it also got used more. I’m sure there’s enough left to do any cooking we need to do. We just have to be watchful going back and forth from the shed to the house.”

  “What if we cook a big pot of something, enough for two or three meals, and take it to the bunker. There’s a little fridge there, and we wouldn’t have to come out of the bunker so often,” Ross suggested.

  “Are you boys sure you can go back there?” Helen looked dubious.

  “We talked about it,” Massey quietly replied. “We’re certainly not eager to be reminded every day of what happened, but the thing that was bothering both of us the most was that our family members were still in the ashes of the barn. Now that they’re properly buried, it’ll still be hard, but we think we can handle it. There was just something about seeing charred wood and soot-covered roofing, and knowing they were under there, that upset us both. We’ll never be able to thank you enough for doing what you did today.”

  “So, where are we going to call home until spring?” Jeff reminded them. “I think we’ll be safer in the bunker, but more comfy here. Cooking will be easier here, and we can see outside, which we can’t do from inside the bunker.”

  “I hate to say this. I really do, but…I think maybe we’re safer here.” Stevie had that deer-in-the-headlights look, but also seemed determined to stand her ground.

  “Why do you say that?” Jeff demanded.

  “We’ve been here for several days. I don’t know exactly how long, but we haven’t seen anyone prowling around. The gang is dead now, but living in the bunker didn’t save Ross and Massey’s family. They had to come out to care for the animals, just like we’ll have to come out to set or check snares and to cook. That homestead is closer to the road, and more visible, too. Anyone watching will be able to figure out that there’s something, uh, interesting, about the shed, and it’s possible, even if improbable, that we could be trapped down there.

  “This place is more secluded, and really hard to see until you’re practically in the yard. There’s a bigger clearing, and the buildings are further apart, so it would be harder for someone to sneak up close. I may be wrong, and I’m willing to listen to any of you who disagree, but that’s just what I’ve been thinking.”

  “Well, duh. I think you might be right, Stevie. I was thinking of being underground as safe, but it wouldn’t be if we’re in and ou
t too often,” Jeff admitted.

  “She is right,” Massey noted. “I think the coming and going from the house to the bunker is what got our family killed. If you remember, I said someone was watching, and we weren’t careful enough, that first day I met you.”

  Ross nodded. “Yeah, you’ve got a point. Somebody saw us coming out of the bunker and must have figured out a way to lure everyone into the open. I guess we’ll never know exactly what happened, but Pitts and his gang didn’t even go into the bunker. There was no sign that anyone other than the family had been down there. Pitts and his gang wanted the cattle and chickens. I always knew he wasn’t exactly a deep thinker, but that was really stupid. They could have had a lot of food, a lot of variety, if they’d been smart.”

  “So, you’re saying Pitts played Solitaire for cash?” Helen asked.

  Jeff jumped in without hesitation. “If his brains were dynamite, he couldn’t have blown his nose.”

  “He was a neuron short of a synapse.”

  Stevie interrupted to whisper to Ross and Massey. “Now you’ve got them started. This is gonna be good.”

  Jeff threw out, “He took two hours to watch 60 Minutes.”

  “Pitts was as smart as a screen door on a submarine.”

  “A thought once crossed his mind. It was a lonely journey.”

  “His brain was an inanimate object.”

  “He was so dumb, blondes told jokes about him.”

  “He thought iambic pentameter was an Olympic sport.” Helen pointed at Jeff as if to say, “your turn.”

  “He was a few beers short of a six-pack!” Jeff responded.

  “His mind wandered and never came back,” Helen replied.

  “Body by Fisher, brains by Mattel.”

  “He was a few beads short of a rosary.”

  When Helen and Jeff paused to catch their breath, Massey joined the silliness. “I don’t know what made him so dumb, but it really worked.”

  “The nearest he got to a brainstorm was a light drizzle,” Helen joked.

  “He forgot to pay his brain bill,” Massey added. “And his Slinky was kinked.”

  “His head whistled in a crosswind!” Jeff shot back.

  By that time, everyone was laughing. Massey couldn’t resist one last remark. “He was always lost in thought; it was unfamiliar territory!”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  February 1- April 16, the Barnett farm

  The decision was finally made to stay where they were, rather than move to the bunker. Life developed a routine of setting snares, standing guard, playing games, cooking meals, and talking. Weeks passed, and very little happened to break the monotony.

  Ross and Massey went to their uncle’s farm and set the marker, which Massey had rubbed with oil to help preserve it. They stood silently, reminisced a little, and said their goodbyes to the family they would always love. Then they went into the house and gathered more pictures of that branch of the family.

  Jeff and Stevie made a few trips with the garden cart, walking to the bunker and coming back with supplies. They had plenty of food, but Helen insisted on continuing to provide fresh meat. Massey shot a deer with his bow, which he and Helen cut into thin strips, seasoned, and dried in the oven on the lowest setting.

  Once, Massey saw some people passing in the woods to the west of the barn, but he made a noise and extended the barrel of his rifle around the corner, so they’d see it. The people ran away to the south and he never saw them again.

  Massey and Ross chose two long boards and formed them into poles to push the raft across, hoping that when they were finally ready to cross the river, it would be down sufficiently to use them. They also sharpened their knives and found four shorter boards which they carved into oars. Massey designed and shaped a simple rudder for steering. Everything they did was off the cuff; none of them had any practical experience with rafting across a river.

  It snowed twice, and there was ice everywhere one morning, enough to cause smaller tree limbs to break. The snapping of branches sounded like sporadic gunshots coming from different places in the forest. It was a cold winter, especially for the South, and they were all thankful they’d decided to wait in the safety and comfort of the Barnett home. Surviving without shelter would have been almost impossible and they were glad they hadn’t tried to cross the river.

  Inside the house was also cold. Everyone dressed in layers, trying to stay warm. Each pack was loaded with necessities, and they left the clothing they planned to take packed away, wearing other items that Jeff and Stevie found on their trips to the bunker.

  After a discussion, they chose a variety of foods to fill the duffle that Massey found and another bag that came from their Uncle Gene’s. With five people taking turns, carrying two duffels wouldn’t be too hard and it would give them a safety cushion in food supplies.

  Gradually, the days grew longer, and the temperature began to climb. Helen had continued to mark the days in the back of the calendar, even though the year it was printed for had passed. She didn’t think she lost too many days, but knew it was possible. It was sometime around the middle of April, as far as she could tell, and the time had come to begin thinking about moving out.

  ~~~~

  Massey and Jeff went to the river one morning to see how it looked. The weather had been dry for several days, which was unusual for spring, but they were grateful. All they needed to do to be ready to leave was build the raft and get everyone and their supplies to the river.

  Approaching the banks, they stayed in the trees to watch for people. After several minutes of looking and listening, there was no sign of other humans. Birds sang in the trees up and down the banks, so they stepped closer.

  The river was down, lower than they’d ever seen it before. Massey tossed a chunk of wood into the water, and it bobbed slowly downstream, carried by the lazy current.

  “Yes!” Jeff whispered. “Let’s go back and start moving that lumber.”

  “First, we need to find a good spot to hide it until we’re ready to build. It has to be close to the water, but out of sight to passersby. And I need to make sure the screw gun batteries are fully charged. That won’t take long. I’ll get the charger hooked up to the solar and we can start carrying wood down here. By the time we make a few trips, it’ll be charged up and ready to go, and I can switch to the other battery.”

  They checked the banks once more, then headed into the trees to find a likely spot to hide the lumber. Massey located a good place beneath three large cedars that were growing close together. Jeff agreed that it was ideal, and they headed back to the farm.

  ~~~~

  Carrying heavy boards, poles, and oars through the woods proved to be both slower and more exhausting than expected. It took the entire rest of the day to manage it, then scatter leaves and dirt on top for additional cover. At last, the five friends trekked back to the house in silence.

  “Okay, tomorrow, early, we need to get back to the river with our supplies, and see if we can get a raft built,” Massey told them. “The screw gun is fully charged, and so is the extra battery. We’ll have to carry the inner tubes and the box of screws, in addition to our packs. It’s going to be a long day.”

  “Yes, but once we’re across the Mighty Mississippi, we can leave a lot of that behind. We all need to rest up tonight and be ready for a full day of work tomorrow,” Helen advised. “I’m ready to start this leg of the trip, so I can get home and see my family.”

  ~~~~

  Hardly anyone slept well because they were all thinking too many thoughts. Massey and Ross talked long into the night about the memories they were leaving behind. Massey told Ross about how it had been Stevie’s idea to take some of their family pictures, and how he hoped they didn’t get wet or damaged on the trip.

  Ross was sad about leaving the farm where he’d lived almost all his life, but he was eager to become a part of a larger group, one they hoped would accept them. The brothers played the what-if game, imagining what could happen on
the trip and how they would deal with trouble.

  Stevie mentally reviewed everything in the packs, wishing they were able to take more, then chastising herself for not being thankful enough for what they had.

  Helen thought of her family. She wondered how big the grandkids had grown, and whether everyone had gotten to Kanichi Springs safely. She hoped they were doing well, whether they were at her in-laws’ home or at Tanner’s kennel. She had no way of knowing that they’d abandoned those places already.

  Jeff dropped off to sleep and dreamed of the river, of being swept away by swirling water, of the others falling in, and being unable to help them. He snored all night, which didn’t help any of his friends get any sleep, even if they could have turned off their overactive brains.

  Before the sun was fully up, they’d eaten breakfast, put on their packs, and were ready to leave. Stevie couldn’t help noticing that Ross and Jeff were carrying the two extra bags of food, and Massey was carrying a large rectangular something in a camo zipper bag with handles.

  “What’s that?” she asked, pointing to the object.

  “That, my dear, is a tent. I got to thinking last night that we might have trouble finding shelter, and since it’s getting into spring, but still pretty cool at night, we might need a portable place to sleep. Ross reminded me that we had one of the tents here, instead of at Uncle Gene’s, and I got it out of the barn this morning.”

  “Well, I guess that still leaves two of us with our hands free to defend the group until you three can drop your loads and start shooting,” she grinned. “That’s a good idea, but is that tent big enough for all of us?

  “It’ll sleep eight in a pinch. Not comfortably, of course. One of us will be on guard duty, so only four at a time will need the tent. That’ll leave plenty of room for our packs.”